Automatic radiator curtain



Jan. 30, 1923. 1,443,465. W. M. FULTON. AUTOMATIC RADIATOR CURTAIN,

FILED FEB. s, 19H. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

al'kozncqs J an. 30, 1923.

W. M. FULTON.

AUTOMATIC RADIATOR CURTAIN.

F ILED FEB. 6. I917.

Patented Jan. 30, 1923.

" UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WESTON M. FULTON, F KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE.

AUTOMATIC RADIATOR CURTAIN.

Application filed February 6, 1917. Serial No. 146,964.

To (/7! whom it may concern: Stated broadly, the invention comprises Be it known that I, WESTON M. FULTON, in combination with a radiator. a curtain for 50 a citizen of the United States of America, coveringand uncovering said radiator and and a resident of Knoxville, Tennessee, have automatic means for operating said curtain 5 invented a new and useful Improvement in said automatic means preferably takin the Automatic Radiator Curtains, which invenform of a motor and thermosensitive iiieans tion is fully set forth in the following specifor initiating the operation of said motor. 65

fication. Stated somewhat more specifically. the in- This invention relates to devices for reguvention comprises. in combination with an lating the flow of air in heat-interchanging internal combustion enginepa svstem tor relation with aradiator. particularly radiacirculating a cooling medium in heat-intertors used in cooling systems tor internal changing relation with said engine, means combustion engines and, while capable of for controlling the cooling effect of said sysuse with a wide variety of engines of this tennpreterably in the form of aradiator in 15 type. is especially designed for use in combisaid system and a curtain for covering and nation with di t i h cooling systems uncovering said radiator. and means for auof internal combustion engines used on auto- 't-omatically operating said controlling mobiles. means. said last-named means in the emlt is an object of this invention to provide bodiment illustrated taking the form of a 20 an improved system for maintaining an in- .lllUtOl', a motor-controlling device and therternal combustion engine at a desired temmosensitive means operatively connected to perature. preferably that temperature at said nrotor-controlling device to move the which the engine operates most efficiently. same to motor-starting position, means he- It is a further object of this invention to ing further provided for moving said motor- 25 provide in a system of the type characterized controlling device to motor-stopping posimeans tor controlling the cooling effect of tion at predetermined times.

they cooling system and improved motive The invention is capable of receiving a means for automatically operating said convariety of mechanical expressions one of t ll means, which is shown on the accompanying draw- 30 Yet another object of this invention is to ings. but it is to be expressly understood provide a radiator. particularly for an inthat the drawings are for purposes of illusternal combustion engine. with a curtain tration only. andare not to be construed and automatic means for moving said cur-- as a definition of the limits of the invention, tain relatively to the radiator to vary the reference being had to the-appendedclaims 35 How of air in heat-interchanging relation for that purpose.

therewith. In said drawings Still a further object of this invention is Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front view of a. to provide a radiator. particularly for an preferred form of curtain to be employed in internal combustion engine. with a motorthe present invention:

40 operated curtain for controlling the How Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end elevation of of air in heat-interchanging relation with said curtain: i said radiator and thermosensitive means for Fig. 3 is an end elevation of a radiator controlling the operation of said motor. showing the curtain in position;

()ther ()l) ]t.'th' relate to the provision of a Fig. l is an end elevation of a radiator 45 device of the type characterized which is showing a diti'erent. arrangement of the cursimple in construction, easy toinstall. inextain: pensive to manufacture. and etlicient and in- Fig. 5 is a face view of the radiator and expensive in operation. curtain of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic elevation of the cooling system of an internal combustion engine embodying thepresent invention, and

illustrates an automatic means for operating nate corresponding parts in the several figures, 1 represents the cylinders of any preferred form of internal combustion engine, such, for example, as is commonly employed on automobiles. The cylinders 1 are provided with the'usual jackets for circulating a cooling medium in heat-interchanging relation therewith, said jackets being provided with the usual outlet manifold 2 communicating with any suitable form of radiator 3, from which the cooling medium returns to the cylinderjackets. 1

In accordance with the present invention, a curtain is provided for covering and uncovering the face of radiator 3. Any suitable form of curtain may beemployed, that illustrated comprising a rectangular piece 4 so constructed as to size, thickness'and material that-when covering the face .of the radiator 3 it will effectively exclude the passage of air therethrough. This curtain is shown as designed to be rolled on and unrolled from a roller 5 which, in the embodiment illustrated on the drawings, is designed to move relatively to the radiator, one end of the curtain being secured to the radiator as shown at 6. Any suitable form of roller may be employed, that illustrated comprising a pair of pulleys 7 rotatably mounted on pins 8 extending within a roller casing 9 and rotable with respect thereto. Within the roller casing are one or more springs 10 colinected at one point to the roller casing'9 and at opposite ends to the pins 8. Bands, cords or wires 11 are secured at one end to the radiator, as shown at 11', and at their opposite ends are wrapped about the pulleys An operating band, cord or wire 12' is connected to the roller casing at one end and extends around a pulley 13 secured to the radiator and, thence to curtain-operating means to be described hereinafter. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 3, the curtain is secured to the radiator along the lower edge thereof and normally covers the face of the radiator. When the curtain is rolled onto the roller 5, the spring or springs 10 are tensioned by the relative rotation of the pulleys 7 and roller casing 9, so that upon release of the curtain it is returned to cover the face of said radiator.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 4 and springs 10 are tensioneo oy un'rolling the curta n to cover the face of the radiator, whereby, upon release of the curtain, it is returned to a position uncovering the face of the radiator.

Any suitable form of automatic curtainoperating means ma be employed, such means, however, pre erabl4y being thermosensitively controlled as by the temperature of the medium flowing through the cooling system. In the form shown, the curtainoperating member 12 extends around a second pulley 14, which may also be mounted on the radiator or any other suitable support, and thence extends around a winding drum 15 driven by a gear 16 in meshwith a gear 17, which latter gear is coaxial with a gear 18 in mesh witha gear on the motor shaft 20. Any suitable form of motor may be employed, that illustrated being an electrical motor comprising the armature windings 21 and the field windings 22. Any suitable means may be employed to start and stop the-motor, a double knife-switch 23 be ing illustrated. In the form shown, said switch comprises a pair of conducting arms 24 pivoted to the frame at 25 and connected by a cross bar 26. Two pairs of terminals 27," 28 and 29, 30 are pivotally mounted in the frame, as shown at 31, and connected by a plate 32 which is operatively connected to a rack bar 33. the latter coacting with a pinion 34 coaxial with gear 16 and winding drum 15. The connection between plate 32 and rack bar 33 is shown as a pin-and-slot connection 35, the purpose of which will appear hereinafter.

The type of motor chosen for illustration is series wound, one line wire 36 leading to terminal 29 and the other line wire 36 lead-- cooling medium flowing through the cooling.

system, although the same could, if desired, be subjected to the air flowing through the radiator. Any suitable form of thermosensitive means may be employed, that illus trated comprising a bulb 38 extending within one of the conduits in said cooling system, said bulb being in communication through flexible pipe 39 with an expansible and collapsible vessel 40 having a displaceable Wall 41 connected by a link 42 to cross bar 26 of switch 23. Vessel 40 is preferably constructed of corrugated resilient metal,

and said vessel, conduit 39 and bulb 38 are charged with a thermosensitive fluid, preferably at a pressure below that of the surrounding medium.

Upon starting the engine, cooling medium flows through the jackets of the engine, the radiator 3 and back to said jackets.

The curtain4is now in position to cover the face of the radiator and substantially eX- clude the passage of air therethrough. The cooling medium flowing through the cooling system is cooled (httle, if at all, and quickly rises in temperature until it approximates the selected temperature, preferably that temperature at which the engine operates most efliciently. While the engine is warming up, the thermosensitive fluid in bulb 38, pipe 39 and vessel 40 is condensed, said vessel is contracted, and switch 23 is held in its neutral position. When the desired temperature is reached, said thermosensitive fluid responds to the increase in temperature and the pressure within the thermosensitive device increases sufficiently to expand vessel 40 and move knife switch 23 until its arms 24 engage terminals 29 and 30. Current now flows to the motor through line wire 36, terminal 29, switch arm 24, through the field-windingsin the direction indicated by the arrow 43 in Fig. 8, through switch arm 24, terminal 30, an

mature connection 37 and back through line wire 36. The motor rotates winding drum 15 through the gearing shown, and the curtain (in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3) is rolled onto the roller 5, uncovering the face of the radiator. As the curtain is rolled onto said roller, the bands 11 unroll from the pulleys 7, rotating the latter in the opposite direction to that in which roller casing 9 is rotated, and tensioning the spring .or springs 10. During the rotation of winding drum15, pinion 34 reciprocates rack 33, and just when the curtain entirely uncovers the face of the radiator, rack 33 engages the end of its slot 35 with the depending pin on plate 32, and moves the terminals 27, 28, 29 and 30 to disengage the latter two terminals from the arms of the switch 23. The switch is now in neutral or motorstopping position. Upon a decrease in the temperature of the medium flowing through the cooling system the thermosensitive fluid within the thermosensitive device condenses, vessel 40 is collapsed, and the arms 24 of switch 23 are drawn into engagement with the terminals 27 and 28. Current now flows to the motor through line wire 36, terminal 27. arm 24, through the field windings in the direction indicated by the arrow 44 in Fig. 8, through switch arm 24, terminal 28, armature connection 37, and back through the line wire 36'. The motor now turns in the opposite direction. Drum 15 is rotated in the opposite direction, the tension on curtain 4 is relieved, and the spring or face of the radiator, rack 33, moved in the opposite direction by the opposite rotation of gear 34 from that heretofore described,

engages the end of its slot with the depending pin on plate 32 and moves terminals 27 28, 29 and 30m disengage ter-.

minals 27 and 28 from'the arms 24 of switch 23. Said switch is therefore again moved to its neutral or motor-stopping p0- sition.

Under normal conditions, the vessel 40 is partially collapsed owing to the excess of the external pressure over the internal pressure, such collapse occuring against the resiliency of the metal walls of said vessel. Upon equalization of the external and internal pressures, as when there is a leak, the elasticity inherent in the Walls of said vessel 40 causes expansion of the same and moves switch 23 to that position in which it is designed to start the motor'to' uncover the face of the radiator. If said curtain is already withdrawn from the face of the radiator, this movement will have no effect except to render the switch unresponsive upon the occurrence of subsequent temperature changes and therefore incapable of actuating the motor torelease the curtain to cover the face ofthe radiator.' If the curtainis covering the face of the radiator upon the occurence of a leak, the motor is started to withdraw the curtain from the face of the radiator and maintain the latter uncovered. Obviously,

in place of a vessel having a wall possessing inherent resiliency, a vessel of non-resilient material could be employed together with a spring, within or without said vessel, tending to move the displaceable wall 41 in a direction to expand said vessel.

It will be understood that in thestructure of- Figs. 4 and 5, wherein the spring or springs tend to withdraw the curtain to uncover the face of the radiator, the winding drum 15 unrolls the curtain to cover the face of the radiator in one direction and releases the tension on the curtain to permit" the spring or springs to roll up the curtain in the opposite direction to uncover the face of the radiator.

While the illustrated embodiment has been described with considerable particularity. it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not to be restricted to the constructions illustrated on the drawings, for it is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, some of which willy now readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. while certain features of the invention are susceptible of use without other features thereof. Reference is thereforeto be had to the claims hereto appended for a definition of the limits of said invention.

What is claimed is 2-- 1. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a system for circulating a cooling medium in heat-interchanging relation therewith, a radiator in said circulating system, a curtain for said radiator, a roller onto and from which the curtain is adapted to be-wound and unwound, spring means cooperating with said roller and tending to maintain said curtain unwound therefrom, and thermostatically controlled motive means for Winding said curtain onto said roller.

2. In combination with an internal c0m bustion engine, a system for circulating a cooling medium in heat-interchanging relation therewith, a radiator in said circulating system, a curtain for said radiator an electric motor for operating said curtain, a reversing switch in the motor circuit, means for throwing said switch to neutral position at predetermined points in the movement of said curtain, and a thermostat for operating said switch to start said motor.

3. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a system for circulating a cooling medium in heat-interchangng relation therewith, a radiator in said circulating system. a curtain for said radiator, a motor for operating said curtain. a thern'iostat for starting said motor, and automatic means for stopping said .motor.

4. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a system for circulating a cooling medium in heat-interchanging relation therewith, a radiator in said circulating system, a curtain for said radiator, an electric motor for operating said curtain, a switch in the motor circuit, a thermostat for'throwing said switch to motor-starting position, and automatic means for .throwing said switch to motor-stopping position.

In combination. an automobile radiator, a curtain for said radiator, a. motor for moving said curtain, thern'iostat-icallycontrolled means for starting said motor, and automatic means for moving said motor-starting means to motor-stopping position.

6. In combination. an automobile radiator, a curtain for said radiator, an electric motor for moving said curtain, a switch in the motor circuit, a thermostat for throwing said switch to motor-starting position, and means for automatically throwing said switch ,to motor-stopping position.

7. In combination, an automobile radiator, a curtain for said radiator. an electric motor for operating said curtain. a reversing switch in the motor circuit, means for throwing said switch to neutral position at predetermined points in the movement of said curtain, and a thermostat for operating said switch.

8. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a system for circulating a cooling medium in heat-interchanging relation therewith, a radiator in said circulating system, a curtain for said radiator, means for operating said curtain, and thermosensitive means for controlling said operating means, said thermosensitive means being so constructed as to actuate said operating means to withdraw the curtain from in front of said radiator upon failure of the temperature control.

9. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a system for circulating a cooling medium in heat-interchanging relation therewith, a radiator in said circulating system, a. curtain for said radiator, a motor for operating said. curtain, motor-controL ing means, and thermosensitive means for operating said motor-controlling means, said thermosensitive means being so constructed as to move said motor-controlling means to the position for actuating the motor to withdraw the curtain from in front of the radia tor upon failure of the temperature control.

10. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a systemfor circulating a cooling medium in heat-interchanging relation therewith. a radiator in said circulating system, a curtain for said radiator, means for operating said curtain, and thermosensitive means for controlling said operating means. said thermosensitive means comprising a vessel provided with a wall displaceable against an elastic force and operatively connected to said operating means, said vessel being charged with a fluid exerting a pressure interiorly thereof less than the pressure to which said vessel is exteriorly subjected and said wall being so connected to said operating means as to actuate said operating means to withdraw said curtain from in front of the radiator upon equalization of the internal and external pressures acting on said vessel.

11. In con'ibination with an internal combustion engine. a system for circulating a cooling medium in heat-interchanging relation therewith. a radiator in said circulating system. a curtain for said radiator, a motor for operating said curtain. motor-controling means, and thermosensitive means for operating said motor-controlling means. said thermosensitive means comprising a vessel provided with a wall displaceable against an elastic force and operatively connected to said motor-controlling means, said vessel being charged with .a fluid exerting a pressure interiorly thereof. less than the pressure to which said vessel is exteriorly subjected, and said wall being so connected to said motorcontrolling means as to move the same to the position for actuating the motor to withdraw the curtain from in front of the radiator upon equalization of the internal and external pressures acting on said vessel.

12. In combination with an internal oombustion engine, a system for circulating a cooling medium in heat-interchanging reia-r tion therewith, a radiator in said circulating system, a curtain for said radiator, motlve means for operating said curtain, means to 10 In testimony whereof I have signed this 15 specification.

WESTON M. FULTON. 

